England's fringe test players proved to coach Stuart Lancaster he was on the right track to build depth as he prepares for next year's World Cup with a 38-7 victory over the seven times Super Rugby champion Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch on Tuesday night.

The visitors, who have spent most of the tour holding tackle bags for the test side, scored six tries - four in the first half - while fly half Danny Cipriani slotted three conversions before he was substituted early in the second half.

Crusaders' flanker Matt Todd, who replaced captain George Whitelock when he suffered a head knock in the first half, scored his side's only try, which was converted by Tom Taylor.

England showed a willingness to spread the ball wide and play the game at pace, while their forwards' superior size and the team's rush defensive system put pressure on the Crusaders and forced them into errors and turnovers.

They scored four tries in the first half to hooker Joe Gray, winger Ben Foden, inside centre Brad Barritt and full-back Alex Goode, with Cipriani converting three to go into the break with a handy 26-7 lead.

The match descended into an arm-wrestle in the second half with England winger Anthony Watson's try in the 59th minute the only scoring action before replacement Chris Pennell scored the sixth and final try after the full-time hooter.

It was England's first win on the tour after they lost the first two matches to the All Blacks and will no doubt give the test side hope ahead of the third and final match in Hamilton on Saturday.

Farrell ruled out of third Test

England fly-half Owen Farrell has been ruled out of the third Test against the All Blacks after suffering a knee injury, coach Stuart Lancaster said Tuesday.

The first-choice pivot picked up the injury in Saturday's second Test and has failed to respond sufficiently to treatment.

First Test starter Freddie Burns along with Danny Cipriani and Stephen Myler who shared the fly-half duties against the Crusaders, are all available options for the Test.

"The knee has been scanned and there is a strain there, It's disappointing for Owen as he was desperate to play in the final Test," Lancaster said.

"Fortunately we have three other fly-halves to call on and we'll make that selection call over the next few days."